Monday morning mindfulness

Sometimes, whether because of a difficult week, an upsetting conversation or just a general, existential feeling of sadness and ‘flatness’, we need to narrow down what we are focusing on and giving our time to, just temporarily. This is where going back to the basics and keeping it simple really helps. It’s a cleansing experience, a necessary and often reassuring one. Today, focus on the everyday tasks or habits, in your work day or whilst at home, and try to carry them out with consciousness. Whether you are rinsing out a mug, filing papers or drinking a cup

Happy Saturday, friends! And to those of you in the States, I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving. I’ve been a bit quiet the past couple of days because there has been so much going on at work. We had parents’ evening on Thursday from 2:30pm until 8pm so, as you can imagine, I fell into bed pretty much as soon as I arrived home! The school term never really slows down–what with Christmas productions, assessments and all sorts of festive parties and afternoon fayres, there is always something to keep us teachers busy. I do enjoy this season though,

Sometimes in life, somebody says or does something that is so ridiculous and factually untrue that it is hard not to dissolve into hysterical laughter, stretch your arms out in a manner that says nothing but a slow and pronounced “WTF?” or become so frenzied and angry that you want to swipe them upside the head and pelt them with your heaviest belongings. Whilst one or two of those options may occasionally be appropriate, none of them seems like a real answer to me. It is really hard to keep cool and collected enough to deal with the issue when

No matter how busy you are, there is always time to breathe, to be quiet and to regain your connection to the present moment. It’s a constant reminding, a constant re-focusing of your attention. And it isn’t always easy. You might only achieve it for a few seconds at a time at first, but that’s progress. It often feels easier to just let our minds run away with us and repeat those same old thoughts, stories and complaints over and over. Despite the fact that we are sick of them, there is something strangely comforting and familiar about indulging in

Whilst I am a passionate advocate for education, I worry that we are overloading our children with information, and setting expectations that just rob these young minds of their love of learning. As a teacher, I know children who are constantly busy with extra-curricular activities–sports clubs, language exams in the evening, tutoring at weekends. They spend six hours a day with us at school, expected to listen carefully and work hard, and some barely get a chance to breathe before heading off to another class. After-school clubs and hobbies are great, but giving a child space and silence is just